About 150 people attended the "South Asian Community Champions Against Domestic Abuse Forum" on Sunday, April 10th. The workshop's focus was on how to eliminate abuse in the South Asian community, by enlisting community members to help victims of domestic abuse as well as talk to men who are being abusive towards their spouse.

One of the facilitators, Dr. Rajpal Singh, helped to dispel myths that surround domestic violence in our communities. He indicated that the majority of South Asian men are not abusive, and then talked about how, in his over 20 years of experience working with South Asian men who have been abusive, that the majority are able to learn and change. He also talked about how someone can talk to a man who they suspect is abusing his spouse. Kashir K. Besla talked about why victims stay in relationships, and how community members can help and support these victims. Daljit Gill-Badesha then talked about how domestic violence harms children's development.

The main theme of the event was that community members have a role to play in ending domestic abuse, since in our community extended family members are often the first to find out if violence is happening between a couple. While they talked about the importance of calling the police if someone's life is in danger and if the violence is continuing, the facilitators also indicated that community members, especially extended family members, can talk to couples who may be having conflict before there is violence, or before the violence has escalated, and offer support.

Those who attended were able to take translated information home with them, as well as visit booths of over a dozen local agencies that provide services to South Asian communities. They were deemed the "Champions" who could go out and help their friends and families who were having difficulties in their relationship.

The event was hosted by the Justice Institute of British Columbia, which is also conducting research on domestic abuse in South Asian communities. Funding for the event was provided by the Department of Justice Canada, in recognition of the National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, which is being recognized from April 10 - 16th, 2011. For more information about this event or to learn more about the research project, please contact Gary Thandi at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> .